Insole-lip sewing machine.



AL JOHNSON, INSOLE 'LIP SEWING MACHINE;

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1911.

11 UBQAY4 Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. E. JOHNSON.

INSOLELIP SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1911.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

W ZZ/zadscd Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

A. E. JOHNSON. INSOLE LIP SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAYYI, 1911.

' Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

@Tdrlfld lUAkTlffilf if ALBERT E. JOHNSON, OF BEVERLY, TEASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 033 NEW JERSEY.

INSOLE-LIP-SEXVING MACHINE.

citizen of the United States, residing at .licverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Insole-Lip Sewing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sewing machines for forming insoles, and more particularly to sewing machines for forming what are known comn'iercially as Economy insoles.

In forming the Economy type of insole the blank treated by slitting its faceto form a channel and by slitting the edge to form a feather, these operations producing two independent, contiguous flaps at the margin of the blank. T he two flaps thus formed are turned up from the channel and the feaf cr and secured together to form a. single, compound lip. Thereafter reinforcing fabric, such as canvas, is applied to the face of the insole and to the lip.

The present machine contemplates an improvement in. the formation of insoles of the general character described and relates par ticularly to the step of bringing the channel and feather flaps together to form a single, compound lip. Heretofore the two flaps have been secured together either by cement or by a line of stitches formed in the usual manner by means of well-known stitch forming mechanism in sewing machines suitably modified to adapt them to this particular class of work.

The present invention relates particularly to the mechanism for feeding the. solethrough the machine and for illustrative purposes is shown as applied to the domestic VVillcox & Gibbs sewing machine.

The object of the present invention is to improve the feeding mechanism heretofore employed in this work rendering it positive and certainin its operation. In accordance with this object the invention comprises a feeding mechanism consisting of meml'ers engaging opposite sides of the fea ier adapted to advance the sole by a po .tive:

ll on the end of the driving shaft. The

gri p g action. In the preferred form of the invention the usual four-motion f'ied bar is'provided with a pair of aws which,'while Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 1, 1911.

the stitch is being formed, are open but Patented Mar. lid, time.

Serial No. 624,3.21.

which are closed upon and clamp the feather of the solo in the feeding stroke of the bar. It has been found convenient to utilize the guide, which exerts pressure upon the unchanneled face of the sole in machines of this character, as a cam for closing the jaws upon the feather as the feed bar moves upward just prior to its feeding stroke. The downward stroke of the feed bar permits the jaws to open under the action of a suitably arranged spring and they are thus held free of the sole during the return stroke of the bar.

To the accomplishment of the above ject and such others as may here nafter appear. the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and parti ularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a Willem; d: Gibbs domestic sewing machine adapted to securing together the two contigl'lous flaps of an insole and having the improved feeding mechanism fitted thereto; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the guide for the unchanneled face of the sole being broken away to permit an unobstructed view of the feeding mechanism; Figs. 3 and at are a plan and front elevation, respectively, of the feed bar and sole clamp removed from the machine; and Fig. 5 is a section through the sole clamp on the line 55 of Fig. 3, greatly enlarged.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the VVillcox & Gibbs sewing machine there shown is provided With the usual stitch forming mechanism including a straight eye-pointed needle 2 and a rotary thread hook or cast-elf 4. thread hook is rotated by being mounted directly upon the driving shaft (3 and the needle bar is reciprocated, in guides on the frame, by the oscillations of a pivotally mounted lever 8 actuated from an eccentric (not shown) on the driving shaft 6, all as usual. A four-motion feed mechanism, in-

cluding a feed bar 12 (see Fig. 2) pivoted at 14 to the machine frame, is operated in e usual manner by an eccentric, 16 (Fig.

The

presser-foot 18 is carried by the usual 7 presser'foot bar 20.

made quitesmall, as shown in Fig. 1. It

is removably held in a casting 25 with its front edge in a plane but slightly in ad- Vance of the plane of operation of the needie 2. This change in the size and location of the work table is to permit it to support the two upturned flaps of an insole in such position relative to the stitch forming mechanism as properly to receive a line of stitches. lVhen in working position the edge flap of the insole rests upon the work table, the front edge of the work table pressing well into the shoulder at the base of the feather, and the channel flap is pressed upon bythe resser-foot 18. A portion of an insole in working position during the feed is illustrated in Fig. l.

The small area of the work table leaves the thread hook 4e exposed and, owing to the position of the insole in the machine, unless some protection be provided, the thread hook, in its rotation, is liable to injure either the marginal portion of the solo by engagement therewith or the hand of the operative who directs the feed of the work through the machine. To prevent such injury the thread hook is provided with a cap or guard 28 (Fig. 1), removably supported in the casting 25, which incloses the upper portion of the path of movement of the thread hook, thus effectively housing it and preventing its coming in contact with either the work or the operative. 1

In order to maintain the two flaps of the insole in stitch receiving position during the operation of the stitch forming mechanism, the machine is also provided with a work positioning device or guide comprising a roll 32 adapted to exert pressure on the unchanneled face of the insole at a point opposite the flaps. This roll is mounted upon one arm 34 of a bell-crank lever which is pivoted at 35 in a bearing located upon the machine frame at a point below the work table. This mounting of the work guide provides for an unobstructed space above and in front of the work table, thereby permitting the insole readily to be inserted and removed and also provides for a free and easy manipulation of the insole by the operative during the stitching operation. The guide roll 32 is held in working position by means of a coiled spring 37 suitably connected by its ends to pins upon the bell-crank lever arm 34: and the machine frame. The other arm 36, of the bell-crank lever which supports the work guide, is connected by means of the well known yoke and sliding block to the forwardly extending arm 38 of a second bell-prank lever pivoted at 39 in a bearin formed on. the casting 25. The rearwardly extending arm 40 of this latter bell-crank lever has depending therefrom a chain 42 which is connected to any usual or convenient form of operating treadle (not shown). With this construction', when the treadle is moved in a direction to depress the bell-crank arm 10 motion is communicated from the bell-crank arm 38 to the bell-crank arm 36 in a direction to-move the guide roll outwardly into a position to permit insertion or removal of the work. When the treadle is released, the spring 36 returns the guide roll to its working position. An adjustable stop 33 is provided to limit the inward movement of the bell-crank arm 34. when'no work is in the machine so as to avoid injury to the operating mechanism by an engagement of the guide roll therewith.

As the presser-foot 18 must be lifted before the work can readily be removed from the machine, means may conveniently be provided for lifting the presser-foot at the time the guide 32 is removed from working position. To this end a lever 1% is pivoted at 39 and is adjustably connected at its rear end in a well known manner (see Fig. 1) to the bell-crank armdO, its forward end extending to a position beneath the lower end 16 (Fig. 2) of the presser foot rod. The lever 44 is preliminarily adjusted to a position to allow for changes in the Position of the guide roll, due to the varying thickness of the work as it is fed through the machine without engagement of the lever 44 with the shoulder 46. The space provided for this purpose, however, though sufficient to prevent an inopportune lifting of the presser-foot, is not suiiicient to prevent the proper operation of the lever it when the bell-crank arm 40 is depressed by means of the treadle.

The features of the present machine re- 4 lating to stitching the two flaps together, heretofore described, are not claimed herein as they are more fully described and claimed in detail in my co-pending application, Serial No. 538,087, filed January 14, 1910.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3, at and 5, which illustrate the preferred em bodiment of the feature of the machine forming the subject matter of the present invention, it is seen that in place of the usual toothed feed foot, the feed bar 12 has mounted thereon a pair of jaws which form a clamp for seizing the two sides of the feather of the sole (see Fig. 1). An arm 50 projects forwardly from the upper side of the feed bar, being mounted for an in and out adjustment on a shoulder 51 by means of the usual set screw and slot, and carries at its free end a stationary jaw 52 the inner, or gripping, face of which is provided with ion teeth to enable it 'to secure a firm hold on the sole. The arm G is provided, below the jaw 52, with hearings in which is mounted a pin 53 forming; pivot for the outer, movahle jaw 54 which is arranged between the guide roll and the sole. A coiled spring 55 is mounted on the pivot pin and arranged to iaintain the jaw 54 in its open position (see Fig. its the outer jaw engages the grain side ofthe sole its gripping face is made smooth so as not to roughen or otherwise mar the surface.

in the operation of the machine the outer jaw is held by its spring 55 at all times in on act with the guide roll 32. When the treaore is depressed to move the guide roll outward the spring 55 causes the jaw to follow the roll and thus the feed jaws are opened to permit insertion of the work. At the time the feed i'JELI 12 is returning from left to right (viewing Fig. 2) after its feed stroke and while in its lowermost position, the guide roll, by reason of its conical shape, permits the jaw 54 to be held open a sul cient extent to cause the feed clamp to pass freely by the sole without engaging it. As the clamp is raised by the feed oar, however, the slanting, surface of the guide roll acts as a cam to force the movahle jaw 54-. inward and cause the feather to be firmly seized between the two jaws, so that during thefeed stroke from right to left viewing Fig, 2), the sole is carried past the stitch forming mechanism. The jaw 52, at the. time the clamp grips the sole, is well up into the shoulder between the lip and feather and as the upward movement of the feed loar carries this jaw above the plane of the table 24, the lip is lifted off of the table during; the food. At the same time the lower end of a stop extending downwardly from the nress-er-foot 18, is engaged by the shoulder 51 on the feed bar and the presserfoot is lifted. The sole is thus freed from all pressure during the feed movement. At the end of the feed stroke, the downward movement of the feed bar brings the jaw 54: to a position relative to the guide roll where it can be opened by its spring 55, this position being maintained, as explained, during the return stroke of the ban The pressure exerted by the guide roll on the sole caused by the spring 37 places a severe strain on the pressenfoot bar and in time loosens it in its bearing. To overcome this diff culty, a stop 0 (see dotted lines Fig. 1) is mounted on the upper side of the casting against which the stop 56 on the pres ser-ioot hours. The stop is adjusted toward and from the stop 56 by means of the usual slot (30 and set screw 60 and is thus capable of taking up the wear of the presserfoot.

It has been found in practice that the strain is sometimes so great as to lift or spring the arm of the trameupward. This, of course, lifted the presserfoot and interfered with a proper operation of the machine. This difiiculty has been obviated in the present machine by pro iding a spring, to hold the prcsserfoot down, which is supported by the machine frame. Referring to Fig. l, the casting- 25, which forms a cap-plate, is provided with an up right socket 61 which receives one end of a spring 62 the other end of which bears (see Fig. 2) on a loose wear collartlli resting on the usual fixed collar 64 on the presser-foot bar. ll ith this construction, the strain through the presser foot spring is transmitted to the frame and thus the strain on the arm (35 is relieved.

The nature and scope of the invention having been indicated and its preferred embodiment specifically described, what is claimed as new, is

1. A sewing machine for securing tonether the two co1uiguou.--. flaps of an insole having a channel and feather, having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism'ineluding a needle. a work table for supporting the insole with its lip projected across the path of movement, and with its feather extending alongthe path of movementof the needle, and a reciprocatory sole feeding device comprising jaws lying one on each side of the feather to positively grip the two sides of the leather of the sole and means to close and open the jaws during the feeding andreturn movements respectively.

2. A sewing machine for securing together the two contiguous laps of an insole having a channel and feather, having, in comhination, stitch forming mechanism, a work table adapted to engage the edge flap and support the sole with its feather depending in front thereof. a work guide to exert pres sure on the unchanneled face of the sole and hold the sole in stitch receiving position, and a sole feeding device between the table and worlr guidecomprising a pair of jaws having their'faces in position for gripping the depending feather of the sole.

3. A sewing machine for securing together the two contiguous flaps of an insole having a channel and feather, having, in combination,-stitch forming mechanism, a work tahle adapted to engage the edge flap, a four; motion feed bar having a pair of jaws at one end in front of the work table, means for normally maintaining said jaws open, and a work guide to exert pressure on the. unchanneled face of the sole constructed and arranged to close the jaws and cause them to grip the leather ol the sole during the feeding stroke of the feed bar.

4t. A sewing machine for securing together the two contiguous flaps of an insole having a channel and fcathenhaviug, in comhination, stitch formingmechanism, a work table adapted to engage the edge flap, a fourmotion feed bar having a rigid jaw at one end and moving with the bar in front of the work table, a second jaw pivoted in front of the rigid jaw and normally spring pressed outwardly therefrom, and cam means to close the jaws upon the feather and carry the sole forward during the feeding stroke.

5. A sewing machine for securing together the two contiguous flaps of an insole having a channel and feather, having, in combina-,

tion, stitch forming mechanism, a work table adapted to engage the edge flap, a work guide to exert pressure on the unchanneled face of the sole and hold the sole in stitch receiving position comprising a conical roll arranged base up, and a four-motion sole feeding device between the table and guide comprising a pair of jaws yieldingly held open, whereby the conical roll acts as a cam to close the jaws as they move up prior to the feedingstroke and permits them to open as they move down after the feeding stroke has been completed.

6. A sewing machine for securing together the two contiguous lips of an insole having a channel and a feather, having, in combina- 'tion, stitch forming mechanism including a the feather constructed and arranged to positively grip the two sides of the feather.

7. A sewing machine for securing together the two contignouslips of an insole having a channel and a feather, having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a needle, a work table for supporting the insole with its lip projected across the path of movement, and with its feather extending along the path of movement of the needle,

'a sole feeding device comprising a toothed jaw at one side of the feather, means on the other side of the feather for exerting pressure on the sole to cause the said toothed jaw to engage the feather, and means for reciprocating said toothed jaw in the line of feed.

ALBERT E. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

JOHN BUCKLE, Cnnsmnn E. ROGERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

